As many as 15 prominent Universities on Marine and Fisheries sciences from 6 Coral Triangle (CT6) (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste), including 2 prominent ones from Australia are actively involve in developing the programs.

The workplan is expected to become an exchanging platform on information, equation on knowledge and skills at marine conservation, global issues on life environment and technology, especially among the member universities in CT6 countries.

Widi A. Pratikto, Ph.D, the Executive Director of Regional Secretariat of CTI-CFF said: “The formats of applicative programs resulted from a 2-day workshop are expected to become main references for all science-based activities and engagements of the respective member universities of CTI-CFF University Partnership in a year period (2017-2018).”

The CTI-CFF University Partnership Workshop on Program Developmentis a follow up from the previous event i.e. The 1st CTI-CFF University Partnership Meeting, 28 February – 1 March2017 which remarks a collective spirit in safeguarding the Coral Triangle region under the high education institution (university), especially by Marine and Fisheries sciences discipline.

During the 2-day event, two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between the Regional Secretariat of CTI-CFF with the University of Papua New Guinea (UPG) and the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e/UNTL , which makes CTI-CFF University Partnership to have 10 official members since its establishment 1 year ago.

The Coordinator of CTI-CFF University Partnership, Prof. Grevo Gerung, who also the Dean of Marine and Fishery Faculty of the University of Sam Ratulangi (Unsrat), Manado added: “Some of capacity building programs we are developing together include, Special Assistance Program (SAP) for Timor-Leste in developing the marine and fishery sciences, the establishment of an International Doctoral Class for a Master of Science/M.Sc title with a subject of Coral Triangle Ecosystem Governance, and the regional training program on climate change.”

On the same occassion, YBrs. Prof Madya Dr. Ramzah Dambul, Deputy Secretary ofKementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI)/Science and Technology Ministry – Malaysiawho become the Chair of CTI-CFF University Partnershipstated: “The CTI-CFF University partnership is the first inter-university cooperation in the Coral Triangle region, we believe that the adopted programs resulted from the workshop will benefit the marine conservation efforts, knowledge and best practices exchange, including skills improvement among CT6 member countries through high education institution (university).”

The workshop proves that university is a center of science and skills development that will benefit the people. In the future, the partnership is expected to become a reliable exchanging platform for science and capacity for its university members.

Apart from that, 6 representatives from National Coordinating Committee (NCC) of CT6 also participated actively in the event. Including representatives from Education and Culture Attache of Indonesia for Timor-Leste, Ocean Sciencies (CReSOS) University of Udayana – Bali, Project Initiation Specialist ADB, and Sulu Sulawesi Coordinator of GIZ (The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ZusammenarbeitGmbH).

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About CTI – CFF

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries working together to preserve marine resources and coastal, and focuses on some key issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity. CTI-CFF was established formally in the Leaders’ Summit in 2009 with approval of the leaders in six countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6) to adopt CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA) which is a strategic action plan that divided into several working groups that deal with (i) Management of seascapes (ii) an ecosystem-based fisheries management (iii) marine protected areas (iv) climate change adaption, and (v) management of the endangered species.